Mali’s northern neighbour ran the harsher version of the same play: on 19 June 2024 Niger withdrew Orano’s Imouraren operating licence, one of the world’s largest uranium deposits (>200,000 tU), days after Orano restarted works; on 4 December 2024 Orano recognised the loss of operational control of Somair (its majority-owned Arlit producer), and it filed two ICSID arbitrations, against the Imouraren withdrawal (20 December 2024) and over Somair (21 January 2025), claiming damages and asserting offtake rights over seized inventory.
Niger’s share of global uranium supply (~4%) makes the dispute globally significant, and it triggered reciprocal moves (see the GoviEx Madaouela arbitration in Tier 2, and the state’s pivot to non-Western partners).
Value: Not disclosed.
Advisers: Clay Arbitration, engaged by Orano (firm named in Orano’s announcement); Niger’s counsel (not disclosed).
Recorded by The Meridian research desk from public announcements, regulatory filings and financial press coverage. Dates and values are as publicly reported.
